Magnetic locking device



Jan. l0, 1956 N, A, ||||EBAUD 2,730,392

MAGNETIC LOCKING DEVICE Filed NOV. l2, 1954 v Ill/VIII INVENTCR UnitedStates Patent "O 4 2,730,392 MAGNETIC LOCKING DEVICE Nils A. Thebaud, LaCanada, Calif. Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,223

4 Claims. (Cl. 292-201) My invention relates to a secret magneticlocking device of simple construction and novel functioning,

It is an object of my invention to provide a lock and key` rendering aprivate means of access to a container for addedsecurity.

.The actual operation of my device,` being undetectable to onlookers,provides a further object of obvious skill of the operator in the art oflegerdemain.

Another object is to provide added utility to a container after it hasfulfilled its originally intended use.

A further object is to provide a new and inexpensive articleof.manufacture which renders added sales appeal to various everydaycontainers.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichespecially characterize my invention will be described.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying myvinvention; abox simulating the appearance of a book, on the cover of which is showna conventional match book packet.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the container shown in Fig. 1, theview being on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away to show theinterior elements of my device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views showing other applicationsof my invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view of my device as a locky ofunitary structure.

In Fig. 1 the lock part of my device is attached to the inside surfaceof box lid 2, being invisible to the exterior, and in the region of thematch book packet 1 lying on the surface of said box lid. The match bookpacketl embodies and conceals the lock actuating element r key part ofmy device, and is shown in relative operating position.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the interior elements of my device comprising threemain portions 3, 4, and portion 3 is the latch bar, formed ofnon-magnetic material and rotatablyl mounted on the interior surface ofbox lid 2; portion 4 is the latch bar engaging member, also formed ofnon-magnetic material and installed in a position on the interiorsurface of a side wall of the box to engage latch bar 3; and portion 5is a permanent magnet concealed within match book packet 1 and servingas the lock actuating element.

Permanent magnet 5 imbedded in match splints of match book packet 1,more clearly shown in Fig. 3, is not limited to one permanent magnet,but may consist of several smaller magnets, depending upon adaptabilityto the type of article in which they are embodied to fulfill the purposeof concealment and secrecy of operation.

Concealed placement of said permanent magnet 5 in match book packet 1 isaccomplished by the removal of suicient match splints from the rowadjacent to the back cover of the packet to make space for said magnetA5l, which is therein attached by suitable means to facili- 2,730,392vPatented Jan. 10, 1956 tate removal for replacement of the packet upondeterioration of same; in this case said magnet S is simply taped inplace.

6 and 7 shown in Figs. 2 and 6 in Fig. 3 are magnetizable elements,intthis case soft iron pins installed in lock casing 8 to restrict themovementv of and secure latch bar 3 in the latched and unlatchedpositions.

9 is a permanent magnet embodied in latch bar 3 to coact with magnet 5for operation of my device.

Latch bar 3 is mounted to rotate on pin 10, as shown in Fig. 3,v pin 10also serving as the attachment means for lock casing 8 to box lid 2.

Operation of my device is attained by bringing permanent magnetY 5 intoa mutual ysphere of attraction with permanent magnet 9, causing a dualaction of magnetic attraction upon one another between unlike poles, andmagnetic repulsion upon one another between like poles to rotate latchbar 3 into latched and unlatched positions withy latch engaging member4.

The security of latch bar 3 remaining in the latched and unlatchedpositions to prevent untimely pivoting is obtained by the magneticattraction of permanent magnet 9 upon the magnetizable elements 6 and 7shown in Fig. 2, when latch bar 3 is brought into contact with saidelements which are installed in the latched and unlatched positions.

Fig.,4 shows another application` of my device; herein, latch bar 3a is.rotatably mounted within casing 8a on an interior surface ofthe side`wall of a. container instead of on the lid as described in: Figs. 2 and3; and the latch bar engaging member 4a is mounted on the interiorsurface of lid 2 instead of on a side wall as described in Figs. 2 and3. From the foregoing it can be appreciated that installation of mydevice is not limited to any one arrangement within a container in orderto accomplish its purpose.

Fig. 5 illustrates another application of my invention wherein it isinstalled in a cabinet or closet serving to secretly lock a sliding orswinging door or panel; in this case a sliding panel.

Fig. 6 shows my device constructed and installed in a container as acomplete unit 11. Herein, latch bar 3c is enclosed on all sides exceptthe side adjacent to latch bar engaging member 13, by casing 12. Pin 14serves only as a pivoting mount for latch bar 3c; attachment means forthe unit 11 are furnished by pins 15, 15. With this arrangement thedevice may be furnished complete in three parts; namely, parts 11, 13,and 5; which facilitates embodiment in any suitable container.

To further describe the novel features and secrecy of operation of mydevice as illustrated herein: the match book packet is held between thefinger tips, to be more effective a cigar or cigarette may be heldbetween the ingers of the same hand, creating the impression that theoperator is about to light up. Spectators attention is normally drawn tothe empty hand which is grasping lid to open same, while the match bookpacket in the other hand is unobtrusively placed in known position overlocking device and actuating same. With practice this operation becomesvery effective from the standpoint of obvious skill in the art oflegerdemain. If the match book packet is clumsily handled and anonlooker requests inspection of same I have found most persons willmerely open the packet cover and in finding only the normal appearanceof a row of match splints they will return the packet without furtherinvestigation.

From the foregoing can be appreciated the sales appeal my device wouldadd to a cigar or cigarette gift box; the tobacco industry suffers along existent need for a novel gift box to promote the sale of theirmerchandise; merely wrapping a conventional box in holiday or gift paperat present. An expensive cigar smoker would esvice 3 pecially appreciatea lch-proof cigar box. My device is also particularly adaptable for useby the liquid industry which is constantly changing packaging in theeiort to promote the sale of their merchandise.

Other novel adaptations of my device which will be appreciated are in apersonal jewelry box with the actuating element embodied in anornamental or other part of the box, or in a personal ring; a cash orstrong box with the actuating element embodied in a conventional lockkey; a liquorbar cabinet with the actuating element embodied in a bottleopener or cork screw; and a personal diary or book with the actuatingelement embodied in a pen or pencil.

It will be evident from the foregoing that one of the most importantfeatures of my invention is the novel concealment and functioning of theactuating element or key part of my device which, as described inappended drawings, is concealed within a conventional match book packet;but I wish it understood that it is not restricted to this embodiment.guised or concealed within any other article that may be equallyadaptable for the purpose. My invention resides in the essence ofsecrecy obtained by the novel combination and functioning of its parts;it is not limited to the specific arrangements and precise embodimentsas disclosed herein; and changes may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A magnetic locking device comprising: a rotatably mounted latch barformed from non-magnetic material embodying a permanent magnet, a latchbar engaging member, two magnetizable latch bar securing members, and apermanent magnet or magnets concealed and embodied separately from thelatching members; arranged The actuating element may be dis z in amanner to function substantially as described here- 2. A magneticlocking device comprising: a rotatably mounted latch bar formed fromnon-magnetic material embodying a permanent magnet, a latch bar engagingmember, two latch bar securing members formed from magnetically reactivematerial to secure said latch bar in latched and unlatched positions bythe magnetic force exerted on said securing members by the permanentmagnet embodied in said latch bar, and a permanent magnet or magnetsembodied separately from the latching members to coact with thepermanent magnet embodied in said latch bar for positioning said latchbar in the latched and unlatched positions.

3. A magnetic locking device as claimed in claim l wherein saidpermanent magnet or magnets concealed and embodied separately from thelatching members is concealed and embodied in a conventional match bookpacket or any other article equally adaptable for the purpose.

4. A magnetic locking device as claimed in claim l wherein saidpermanent magnet or magnets concealed and embodied separately from thelatching members is concealed and embodied in any article which servesthe purpose of fulfilling the objects described herein.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS767,298 Louis Aug. 9, 1904 795,882 Mather Nov. 15, 1910 FOREIGN PATENTS765,061 France Mar. 19, 1934

